1750 hours, first floor.

There was a saying, a muggle saying, about early birds and worms that often went around Raine's head whenever she woke up before dawn for exercises. It was important that she got out of bed early in the day, important that she was in good health, important to keep oneself focused on life goals. And this evening, the same saying went around in her head because she felt it was important that she began looking for assistance early in the school term.

The Gryffindor prefect made her way down the first floor corridor towards the Defences classroom, muttering under her breath as she adjusted her satchel strap to sit on her shoulder. "I don't see how you got the books out of it," she was saying in a fairly begrudging tone. A mewl escaped from the bag and she rolled her blue eyes as if though the feline inside could see this expression. Maurice had (somehow) dug out all her belongings from the satchel at lunchtime and snuck in for a ride.

Brewing potions without one's notes was not an enviable situation. Nor was the temptation to drop a black cat into one's cauldron.

Raine stopped infront of the entrance and knocked thrice before pushing the door open, her red haired head popping into the classroom. "Try to stay still, alright?" she whispered to her cat as he shifted positions in the bag. Then, looking back up into the space: "Hello, Professor Storm? Do you have a moment?"

It was almost deja vu. Only this time she was dropping in to ask for more than an affirmation of career aims. Their meeting last academic year had been hopeful; and the professor was not so draconian as to frighten Raine away from seeking personal help on a subject so significant to her goals.

The knock at the door came as surprise. It was the first Thursday of the term, and this year, Thursday had become his free-day instead of Friday. It would be time for dinner shortly, and he was just tidying up a set of NEWT homework from the summer to return the following day, in a large stack on the classroom desk.

"Hello, Professor Storm? Do you have a moment?"

"Almasy, do come in."

His tone was verging on cordial. Since he had spoken to Raine by herself, he had far more time for the Gryffindor. It did not overly surprise him to see her now, but it was quite late in the school day. Perhaps the hubbub of the first lesson back the previous day had not been a suitable time to discuss whatever was on her mind.

"I have just finished marking last year's sixth years, this year's seventh year summer homework. A study and observation into the Patronus Charm. Something you may have the delight of this year." He patted the top of the pile with his fingertips, and straightened it with the other.

"Is there something I can help you with?" He asked, letting his hands drop to his sides.

Had Raine had been a cat, her ears might have perked up at Storm's mention of the patronus charm. Fortunately she was in no way near being morphed into such a creature, nor did she have the incredibly bad luck of their resident professor pony.

At any rate, she certainly hoped that the sixth years were worth a chance at the charm... and if they weren't, she'd find a way towards it, by hook or by crook. Preferably not the latter. She smiled fleetingly and politely at the professor, standing in front of his desk with a hand nearly nervously gripping her satchel strap.

There was a possibility the wizard would refuse.

"Yes, there is..." Raine forced her expression into a serious one. "More than just one thing actually, professor. I was wondering if I could, ah, request your assistance for extra lessons this semester."

And then, in a decisive tone, the prefect added: "Duelling lessons, I mean."

Professor Storm frowned momentarily and studied Almasy's face for a fraction longer than she was probably comfortable with. She had grown up over summer, and seemed more self assured than when they had spoken before summer, which was encouraging.

"I would be glad to teach you." He assured Raine and gave her a curt nod. "Though to actually improve, you would need to challenge yourself against duelling against a variety of opponents better than you. A pity Professor Kirchelehner is no longer teaching here." A smirk that was far more sentimental than malice tugged at the corners of the Professor's mouth.

"Are you seeking to improve your duelling for NEWT standard, or is this part of your aspirations to be an auror?" He asked, stepping back to sit down at his classroom desk. One hand reached from his desk drawer where he pulled out his well-recognised mark book and flicked it open to study his timetable for the week.

Raine stifled the urge to glare back at the professor upon being subjected to his scrutinizing stare. There was something unnerving about that look, no doubt an opinion shared by her fellow Defences classmates. It sought for fault in the victim.

But her worries were to no avail and the prefect glanced up with an expression that bordered on grateful, almost smiling. "Thank you," she replied mechanically to his initial response. Any notion of having to justify her request dissolved itself and she relaxed her stance.

Storm's mention of better opponents was food for thought; she frowned slightly. Perhaps one of the foreigners, or another teacher. Who would pass up a duel? At any rate, it was good to see that their old Charms professor was missed. Maurice moved quietly in her satchel and she pulled away from her thoughts.

"Both, I suppose." Raine answered as soon as she found herself facing the question. "Though I am mostly focused on how it pertains to my ambitions," she amended.  "I want to excel at my NEWTs but grades alone won't make an auror." Merlin knew it took more than an Outstanding in Defences for that to happen.

Her gaze shifted fleetingly to the book in the wizard's hands and she added: "My schedule allows for lessons on most afternoons. I can work around whatever is convenient." The Gryffindor looked up earnestly.

"I want to excel at my NEWTs but grades alone won't make an auror."

"Quite." Professor Storm responded primly, though held back criticising the examination body's syllabus for sixteen to eighteen year old magicians in front of one of those students.

"My schedule allows for lessons on most afternoons. I can work around whatever is convenient."

"Tuesday?" The Professor ventured, "I would prefer to keep Thursdays clear of lessons where possible, and Tuesday still gives time to prepare and consider an individual lesson for you." Lifting his quill from the ink on the desk he raised his gaze to the earnest Gryffindor, "Three o'clock, for an hour, and we shall amend if necessary."

With confirmation, he inked her name into the timetable.
"I will see you here next Tuesday."

The mark book snapped shut in his hand and the Professor dropped the quill back to the inkwell.
"If you find you do not have the time, what with your other commitments, you will let me know." It was not a question, but a statement. "The Gryfindor Quidditch team would probably not forgive me for keeping your attention." The familiar smirk curled his features.

That had all been... relatively straightforward. Raine agreed to the suggested time, knowing that since she had yet to even recruit the new players, she could always tailor their training schedule around the extra lessons. Quidditch was great fun and she was more than happy to be Captain this year but in her mind, Defences came first.

Still, she smiled fleetingly at the mention of her house team when Storm brought it up. "I certainly hope that will be the case," she commented dryly. So many of last year's group had graduated that they were working with a rather young set this year.

The prefect felt, more than heard, a rumble in her stomach and suddenly remembered that their dinner time was very soon. Food!  Maurice was probably hungry as well. She had accomplished everything she'd set out to do in coming to request for lessons, so there was little sense in lingering around.

"I appreciate your help, professor." Raine straightened her stance and readjusted her satchel strap. The cat in the bag mewed out loud, disturbed, but she spoke over the sound: "Thank you for your time."

With as much efficiency and grace as she had entered, the Gryffindor took her leave. It felt good to start her new school year like this-- with a step forward towards a familiar goal. For the first time in a while, she was much happier than she looked.